Today, Ruth Sullivan and I birded to the coast with many highlights. We
had overcast skies turning to rain showers late in the afternoon with a
constant moderate wind. We started at Schouweiler in the morning, with a
few highlights.
2 American Bitterns
1 Sharp Shinned Hawk
1 Pacific Slope Flycathcer
1 Mourning Dove
2 Osprey (breeding pair on the nest)
We then proceeded on to Brady Loop Road birding various areas including
the wetland pond on the west end. We would re-visit Brady Loop again
late in the evening and hit the east end of the loop as well. The
following are some of the highlights.
6 Black Bellied Plovers in breeding plumage
16 Ruddy Turnstones in breeding plumage
2 Wood Ducks
2 Turkey Vultures
1 Barn Owl
3 Black Headed Grosbeaks
6 Cedar Waxwings
1 Western Wood Pewee
2 Pacific Slope Flycatchers
Our next stop was at the John's River Wildlife Area, where we searched
for the Ross' Goose. With no luck, we went on to Midway Beach. We would
stop again on the way back, after high tide to look one more time, but
still no luck. The only highlight from John's River was,
94 Greater White Fronted Geese.
At midway Beach, we had the best birding of the day. Breeding plumaged
Red Necked Phalaropes galore on the beach feeding. They allowed us to
come as close as 15ft for great photographs. The following are some of
the highlights.
100+ Red Necked Phalaropes
500+ Western Sandpiper
1 Sanderling
6 Snowy Plovers
10+ Semipalmated Plovers
100+ Dunlin
Next was Tokeland, where our shorebird fortunes continued. We arrived 2
hours before high tide, but most of the birds were to far out. But not
for long. Shortly after scoping most of the surrounding areas, some of
the birds flew in. The following are some of the highlights.
60+ Bonapartes' Gull
100+ Whimbrel
15+ Long Billed Dowitcher
40+ Marbled Godwits
1 lone Red Knot
4 Long Billed Curlew
1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Spotted Sandpiper
Our next stop was at Bottle Beach. By now the rain showers were upon us,
the tempatures dropping, and the wind making things worse. After
extensive scoping for the Least Sandpiper, with no luck, the rain had
stopped, and we managed to get the following.
20+ Black Bellied Plovers
30+ Short Billed Dowitchers
50+ Red Knots
25+ Semipalmated Plovers
1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Ruddy Turnstone
300+ Western Sandpipers
300+ Dunlin
With still good time left, we checked the Hoquiam Sewer Treatment Pond.
Most of the waterfowl has moved on, but we still had Northern Shovelers
being the most abundant bird, followed by Greater Scaup, then Lesser
Scaup. Also we had 10 Red Necked Phalaropes.
Good Birding

Dave Hayden
Lakewood WA
dtvhm at nwrain.com